INSIDE

Yard Trimmings . . 4

Food Scraps . . . . 6

Compost

Innovations . . . 11

2 Printed on paper that contains at least 30 percent po

RECOVERING ORGA

VERING ORGA

WASTES—GIVING B

ASTES—GIVING B

TO MOTHER NA TO MOTHER NATUR
Composting Methods

Composting takes many shapes and forms and varies

as much in its complexity as in the range of organic

materials recovered. The four most standard composting methods are:

Static Pile Composting

Organic waste is piled and mixed together.

Composting under these conditions is slow and suited

for small operations. This method requires 12 to 18

inches of loosely piled bulking agents such that air

blows from the bottom to the top of the pile. 

Aerated Windrow/Pile Composting

Organic waste is formed into rows of long piles

(windrows) and aerated either by embedding pipes in

the pile or by turning the pile periodically. This method

can accommodate large volumes of waste, including

animal products or grease, but only with frequent turning and careful monitoring during the thermophilic stage

(when the pile reaches 130 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit).

In-vessel Composting

Organic materials are stored in enclosed equipment

with controlled temperature, moisture, and aeration.

This type of system can process large quantities of

waste with fewer odor problems in a small area and

can accommodate animal products.

Vermicomposting

Worms break down organic materials into high-value

compost called castings. Vermicomposting bins can

function indoors or outdoors, but cannot process 

animal products or grease.

For more comprehensive details on composting methods, processes, and technologies, see Composting

Yard Trimmings and Municipal Solid Waste and

Compost: New Applications for an Age-Old

Technology in the Resouces section. 

lead in giving your organic wastes back to the Earth.

In 1997, WasteWise partners reported recove

than 300,000 tons of food scraps and yard trimm

Taking advantage of the reduction potential of o

waste, partners have achieved significant cost sav

environmental benefits. Some partners have targ

trimmings, others have focused on food scraps, w

others have found unique ways to divert less com

organic wastes. Most organizations close the recy

by using or selling the products resulting from t

reduction, including compost, mulch, and wood 

This issue of the Update highlights a number of 

waste diversion and recovery options implement

WasteWise partners. 

Yard Trimmings: Worth Weeding Out

• Grasscycling. By simply leaving grass clipping

lawn after cutting, rather than bagging them, 

County, Michigan, reduced staff hours for gro

keeping and saved a bundle.

• Mulching and chipping. For more than a deca

Illinois University has provided its own soil am

for landscaping by chipping and mulching its 

on campus.

• Composting. For organizations that have wast

with substantial quantities of both carbon- and 

nitrogen-rich material, composting might be t

option. Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., com

thousands of tons of agricultural byproducts, b

chips, yard trimmings, and animal stable waste 

Anheuser-Busch then reuses the finished comp

landscaping projects.

Food Scraps: Feed the Earth 

• Donation. One of the easiest ways for an organ

divert its organic waste stream is to give away it

food or food scraps to food banks, shelters,

orphanages, or other charitable groups.
Vermicomposting. A less conventional tactic is to feed

food scraps to worms. Sligo Adventist School recovered

500 pounds of cafeteria food waste in 1998 with its 

vermicomposting program.

Water 

Moisture, which is inherent in organic

materials, makes nutrients available to

the microorganisms. If a pile is too wet,

however, nutrients leach out and become

inaccessible to the organisms. Adding

sawdust or paper can help reduce the

moisture content of the pile. 

OUTPU

Odor 

A smell emanating from the compost pile means the microorganisms

are not getting enough oxygen. To

deal with odor problems, adjust the

inputs, especially oxygen.

INPUTS

Breaking Down the Composting Proce

Composting, in nature or in backyards, is defined as the controlled decomposition of organic material. Municipal and com

posting is defined as the thermophilic (heat-based) decomposition of organic material by microorganisms. In either case, co

both a science and a balancing act. You have to find the right mix of inputs to allow microorganisms within the pile to deco

ter into compost containing the proper nutrient and moisture content. The following diagram describes some of the major i

outputs of the basic composting process.

Micro- and Macroorganisms

Once you’ve created a composting

pile by mixing layers of greens and

browns, naturally occurring microorganisms (e.g., bacteria and fungi), and

macroorganisms (e.g., beetles and

earthworms) start consuming and

breaking down the organic matter.

Oxygen 

Microorganisms require oxygen in order to

consume and break down the organic matter, which is why compost piles are turned

frequently. Another way to allow oxygen to

flow through the pile is by adding materials

of larger particle size, such as wood chips,

which would result in a pile with more pores

through which oxygen can enter. Larger particle sizes, however, reduce the surface area

with which the organisms can work. 

Heat 

Microorganisms generat

consume and break dow

matter. The ideal temper

ranges from 90 to 140 d

Fahrenheit. The heat kill

pathogens and weed see

in the compost pile. As t

process nears completio

bial activity slows down, 

drops and the compost b

To produce mature comp

1 to 4 months is require

The final 

which is d

has a

Organic Matter 

The first step is to find the proper balance

of carbon and nitrogen by mixing various

amounts of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ organic

feedstock into a pile. Greens, which

include food scraps and grass clippings,

are high in nitrogen. Browns, which

include leaves, wood chips, and sawdust,

are high in carbon. For most methods,

adding animal products or grease into

the pile is not recommended. 
Kalamazoo County Cuts Waste

While Cutting Grass

Looking for an easy way to save time and money while

reducing waste? Then stop bagging those grass clippings! By making the simple switch to grasscycling in

1993, WasteWise partner Kalamazoo County, Michigan,

realizes savings of approximately $5,000 per year and recovers 140 hours of staff time per week during the growing season. “Eliminating bags of grass clippings helped the county

save money by downsizing trash dumpsters and ordering less

frequent trash pickup,” according to Steve Leuty, Kalamazoo

County’s recycling coordinator.

To serve as a community role model, Kalamazoo County

adopted a waste reduction policy in 1991, committing the

yy g gy, 

verted older conventional mowers by removing the 

county provided lawn mower operators with brief i

including when to mow and what height to leave th

Instead of spending time removing and emptying f

grass clippings, groundskeepers can now focus on o

and let nature do its work. Grass clippings left on th

down between blades of grass and decompose, retu

nutrients to the soil while maintaining soil moistur

erating temperature extremes. 

Overcoming Mulching Mower Misconce

Although Kalamazoo County required only mi

tional changes to accommodate its grasscycling pr

did need to overcome the general misconception 

mulching mowers would litter clippings on down

walks and dampen the appearance of the county’s 

The county found, however, that following a few 

of thumb, such as mowing grass when it is dry to 

clippings from sticking to walkways, helped ensur

Once management and employees were informed 

efits of grasscycling, such as reduced costs, reduce

time, and improved turf health, any initial resistan

into support. Next, Kalamazoo plans to reduce m

needs and enhance property aesthetics by increasi

of low-water, low-maintenance native plantings, a 

known as “xeriscaping.”

For more information about Kalamazoo Coun

cycling program, contact Steve Leuty at 616 384

via e-mail at <scleut@kalcounty.com>.

Yard trimmings—including grass, leaves,

and tree and brush trimmings—accounted for nearly 28 million tons of waste

generation in 1996. Activities such as grasscycling, mulching, and composting can help

divert these materials from the waste stream. In

fact, 14 million tons of the national organic

waste stream is grass, which could be completely

diverted through grasscycling.

Grasscycling Tips:

• Mow when grass is dry and keep mower blade

• Mow more frequently—mowing time will be 40 

less, on average.

• Never remove more than one-third of the gras

• Keep most varieties of grass at least 3 inches hig

control weeds and reduce water demand and pla

(Source: Maryland Department of Public Works and

Transportation.) 

Weeding Out
A Process for All Seasons

“The university decided to start

onsite mulching and composting

because it was expedient,” explains

Jon Collins, EIU’s superintendent of

grounds. When the program began,

EIU had excess land to store composted leaves, and it made sense to

start using the mulch and soil mixture in the university’s greenhouse.

From there, the program expanded to

include landscaping for the entire campus. According to Allan Rathe, EIU’s recycling coordinator, the onsite composting and

mulching program is simple to operate. As the

trees shed their leaves, EIU’s grounds crew rakes and

grinds them up with other yard trimmings using a mulching

mower. The crew tills some of the newly created mulch into

the flowerbeds to help prevent erosion over the winter. The

rest is taken to an out-of-sight spot on the campus grounds,

where it is stockpiled for composting. In the spring, once

the leaves have decomposed, the compost is spread in the

flowerbeds as a soil amendment. Tree branches stay even

closer to their origins: EIU chips them up and spreads the

chips around the trees’ bases. EIU cuts the larger, unchippable sections of dead trees into logs for sale as firewood and

uses the profits to purchase and plant new trees.

One factor other organizations planning this type of program should keep in mind is that mulched yard waste is

somewhat unsightly while it composts throughout the winter

and early spring. Prior to initiating a program, Rathe advises

facilities to find an out-of-the-way place where employees,

students, faculty, and visitors will not see the pile. 

While Rathe and Collins cannot estimate exactly how

much money EIU has saved with the program, they do

believe it is a clear winner. “It has been a successfully operating program for more than 16 years,” Rathe says proudly.

He credits simplicity and common sense as the main reasons

it has lasted so long. To learn more about EIU’s onsite

mulching program, contact Allan Rathe at 217 581-6038 or

via e-mail at <csalr@eiu.edu>.

breweries eventually overcame logi

cles such as handling, storage, 

tecting the chips against con

Reducing environmental 

was not the only benefit the 

considered when it decided 

composting beechwood chi

business that believes in pro

environment, but we’re also 

that must ensure that our acti

including environmental initiati

cost effective,” explains Bert Share, 

prevention manager at Anheuser-Busch

headquarters. The company’s composting a

for instance, help reduce waste disposal costs an

to purchase fertilizers. In total, Anheuser-Busch’s 

management program, including composting act

saved the company more than $13 million since 

at least $2.5 million in 1998 alone.

Whether it’s beechwood chips from its brewer

and animal stable waste from its theme parks, or 

byproducts from its rice and malting operation, A

Busch has experience with the recovery of organi

If your organization is considering composting, S

these general guidelines:

• Start easy and be patient. Before you investiga

posting options, master simple programs, such 

cling, that guarantee success and build credibil

management. Once you have companywide go

takes time to figure out the program logistics, 

manageable pieces and take one step at a time. 

implement the more challenging activities that 

complicated manufacturing processes. While y

zation might experience higher returns, it also 

a much greater challenge and risk of failure. 

• Measure outcomes. The success of your progra

on being able to measure the amount of waste 

and the dollars saved due to environmental act

For more information on Anheuser Busch’s co

activities, contact Bert Share at 314 984-4564 or 

at <hugh.share@anheuser-busch.com>.

In 1998, Anheuser-Busch composted:

• 291,000 tons of agricultural

byproducts

• 7,000 tons of beechwood chips

• 2,350 tons of animal stable waste

• 2,300 tons of yard waste
DaimlerChrysler Helps Drive 

Out Hunger

Food waste recovery can be both easy and rewarding.

Just ask WasteWise partner DaimlerChrysler

Corporation who donated nearly 150 tons of surplus

food in 1998 through Forgotten Harvest, a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes donated food to shelters and soup kitchens in the metropolitan Detroit,

Michigan, area. According to DaimlerChrylser pollution

prevention specialist Doug Orf, “All it took was a desire to

reduce waste, some extra space in the refrigerator, and one

phone call to locate the nearest donation program.”

Through this donation program, DaimlerChrysler saved

more than $5,000 in avoided disposal costs in 1998.

Partnering Makes it Easy

At DaimlerChrysler’s headquarters, sources of leftover

food include five cafeterias. It’s difficult to anticipate how

many of DaimlerChrysler’s 11,000 employees will use the

cafeterias each day, so

DaimlerChrysler’s food suppliers prepare food for 8,000

employees each day. This process

often results in leftover food; therefore, DaimlerChrysler sought an

outlet for the unsold prepared food. It

found a helping hand by calling

Foodchain, a national food-rescue network

comprised of 140 food donation programs

throughout the country. Foodchain connected

DaimlerChrysler with the local organization Forgo

Harvest, and this partnership made donating surp

simple and affordable. According to Orf, “Not onl

Forgotten Harvest pick up our surplus food when 

least 40 servings, which is usually once a week—th

pickup fees involved! All we have to do is keep the 

food refrigerated, which is not a problem since we 

quate refrigerator space.” 

Forgotten Harvest even provided training for D

Chrysler’s food suppliers on the purpose and ben

donation program. The suppliers were initially co

with liability issues; however, Forgotten Harvest 

them that donors who prepare and store food in 

are protected from civil and criminal liability by 

Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. With that 

the food suppliers quickly supported the program

DaimlerChrysler’s food suppliers even box the su

for donation.

Orf strongly encourages other organizations to p

donation programs, and adds, “Partnering with a f

tion program is a great opportunity that benefits th

ment and saves a valued resource needed by others

ongoing success of the program inspired the CEO, 

Chrysler Corporation, to produce a video on it. Fo

information on DaimlerChrysler’s food donation p

contact Doug Orf at 248 576-7361or via e-mail at

<djo6@chrysler.com>.

(see Don’t Throw Away That Food: Strategies for Record Setting Waste

Reduction in the Resources section). 

To find a food donation 

program near you, or for 

liability information, contact:

Foodchain at 800 845-3008 

or visit its Web site at <www.foodchain.org>.

Second Harvest at 312 263-2303 

or visit its Web site at 

<www.secondharvest.org>.

To find out about events and 

programs that fight hunger, contact:

Share Our Strength at 800 969-4767 

or visit its Web site at 

<www.strength.org>.
According to Nancy Hirshberg, director

of natural resources at Stonyfield Farm,

“Stonyfield Farm’s motivation for initiating the program was twofold—it supports local farmers and reduces costs

associated with the disposal of waste products.” Stonyfield Farm also donated more

than 100 tons of edible but unsaleable product to food banks and nonprofit organizations

in the community.

Hirshberg credits Stonyfield Farm’s successful

donation program to its dedicated investment of

time and labor. According to Hirshberg, “Directing

staff time to waste prevention really pays off even for

small companies.” In fact, the combined programs saved

Stonyfield Farm and its 150 employees more than $20,000

in avoided disposal costs in 1998. 

To get the program up and running, employees networked extensively with farmers in the community, designated storage space, set up a waste tracking system,

developed a method for contacting the farmers, and learned

how to prepare donated materials. Stonyfield Farm is building a farmer database to track the 10 or so farmers who pick

up yogurt on a routine basis as well as the farmers who pick

up less regularly. To make the donation program less labor

intensive, Stonyfield Farm also is planning a new process to

transfer yogurt from the production area to a storage trailer

where farmers can pick up and load the yogurt themselves.

Stonyfield Farm’s employees get an additional perk from

the donation program. In exchange for the company’s

yogurt, farmers sometimes bring farm fresh ham and bacon

for the employees to show their appreciation. For more

information about Stonyfield Farm’s donation program, contact the WasteWise Helpline at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473).

chase the Tribes compost are placed on a waiting 

Tribe also has enjoyed significant cost savings fro

tipping fees and landfill disposal charges. 

Despite the economic benefits, cost savings we

Tribe’s main motivations for implementing the p

posting program. Located near the Great Smoky 

National Park in Cherokee, North Carolina, the 

Band of Cherokee Indian reservation attracts 5 m

tourists each year. Its casino alone draws 1 millio

The casino’s opening in 1997, along with the clo

reservation’s MSW landfill, prompted the Tribe t

composting as a method of diverting its food was

Tribe collects an average of 20 tons of food waste 

month from the casino’s steakhouse, fast food res

and open food market. 

According to Murphy, one key factor contribu

success of the pilot program has been the integra

composting process into employee training and r

cedures at the casino. The Tribe hired an addition

ee to handle some of the composting responsibili

morning, the collection containers are loaded on

the casino and transported to the reservation’s co

site, located at the reservation’s closed landfill. Th

ers are emptied, washed, and returned to the casi

food waste is added to a composting windrow, w

in length from 50 to 125 feet and is approximate

wide and 5-feet high. After the compost meets te

turning, and processing time guidelines, it is tran

covered storage curing area for drying and screen

While the Tribe experienced no problems with 

changes, it did have initial problems with odor. Th

found, however, that turning the composting pile 

allows the pile to aerate properly and alleviates any 

The Tribe’s composting program has been so succe

odors continue to be effectively controlled, it plan

its composting activities and collect food waste fro

restaurants on the reservation. Three restaurants h

expressed strong interest in participating in the pro

For more information, contact Calvin Murphy 

828 497-6977 or John D. Long, sanitation recyc

manager, at 828 497-3908.
serves as a model for institutions throughout the state.

Along with various recycling activities, composting has

helped push the facility’s waste diversion rate as high as 77

percent—with more than 500 tons of food waste composted each year!

inmates eating three meals a day, 60 percent of th

waste stream consisted entirely of food residuals. S

the facility’s composting operation has become so 

that it attracts facility managers from across Tenn

other states—to learn how to compost at their ow

How the Prison Composts Organic Wa

1

Inmates and kitchen staff

separate nonmeat and

nongrease food waste

and scraps into 

33-gallon containers. 2

Each day, the

containers are

collected and

trucked to the

composting site.

3

Materia

windrow

the bott

tainer a

the wind

depress

the staff 

the food 

small po

4 cattle m

A layer of straw or mature compost is placed on top to contain 5 odors and to keep out pests.

The windrow is pushed into a

static pile for 30 days then

turned twice every 3 months.

6

7

Temperature, 

moisture, and odor

are monitored carefully, and the pile is

adjusted accordingly. 

After 4 to 5 months, the

result is a fresh compost

that is ready to be applied.

Once a year, the compost

is tested for heavy metal

and bacterial content.
After a few trials with the bins, however, facility officials

realized air was not circulating properly, causing the pile to

rot, or decay without the presence of oxygen. To address this

problem, the facility redesigned the piles into 4- by 100-foot

windrows. The windrow method worked; however, it

required mechanical turners and chippers. Facility officials

drafted a proposal to the state, which lends out equipment

such as chippers and turners to government institutions.

The state accepted the proposal. Armed with a tractor, a

turner, an industrial chipper, and plenty of inmate labor, the

facility launched its composting operation (see page 8). The

finished process yields a dark compost that is applied as a

soil amendment on the facility grounds, which include a

fully operational farm.

The Benefits

Besides reduced disposal costs, Walls noted several other

benefits of the facility’s composting operation:

• Improves soil. The compost helps soil retain moisture and

nutrients.

• Prevents fertilizer runoff. Using compost releases nutrients slowly into the soil and helps soil hold water better

so that close to 100 percent of the fertilizer is used instead

of a portion of it being washed away. This reduces the

amount of fertilizer TNDOC must purchase.

• Reduces costs for the community. The facility helps

reduce disposal costs for the county and other institutions.

It accepts food residuals from a nursing home and occasionally the county will haul in yard waste, which is sent

through the industrial chipper and placed on the windrows

to help aerate the pile and provide a source of carbon.

Walls maintains that a good way for partners to learn

about composting is simply to talk with someone who has

done it before. Correctional facilities across Tennessee have

done just that, and eight other facilities now run composting operations of their own thanks to TNDOC’s help. If

you’d like to learn more about Morgan County Regional

Correctional Facility’s composting operation, contact Bob

Walls at 423 346-6641.

food waste a year into vermicompost. More imp

though, the project offers a great educational exp

the students.

Vermicomposting is a fairly easy project to im

explains Ken Gair, Sligo’s plant manager and sup

the project, “All you need is a bin, bedding, worm

food waste.” Sligo constructed its own bin in the 

greenhouse using plywood and ordered 1 pound 

worms from a grower in Wisconsin for $18. Usin

shredder donated by the National Aeronautics an

Administration (NASA), another WasteWise par

school shreds used office paper for bedding. Sligo 

the bedding for the worms by wetting 1 pound o

paper with 3 pounds (equal to 3 pints) of water. 

thrive in this moist environment and will eat thro

food waste and bedding, producing a rich organi

compost. Sligo changes the bedding every 3 to 6 

and uses the vermicompost on the flowerbeds aro

school grounds. In addition, Sligo found that the 

water, which builds up in the bin, is another grea

nutrients for plants.

Overcoming Challenges

To make the project a success, the school had 

three specific challenges. First, to help younger st

needed more supervision and assistance changing 

ding, a teacher oversees the project. Sligo also enc

space limitations. The greenhouse only holds a m

sized bin, so only 15 to 20 percent of the school’

can be vermicomposted at this point. Finally, wh

out during the summer months and no food was

able, the worms tend to crawl out of the bin and 

a result, Sligo must purchase new worms each ac

year. Nonetheless, vermicomposting has been a g

for Sligo. “Even though we face special challenge

school,” Gair notes, “I highly recommend vermic

to any organization looking for an efficient and c

effective way to reduce food waste.” For more inf

on vermicomposting, see the Resources section o

Update or contact Ken Gair at 301 434-1417 or 

at <klgair@aol.com>.
diverting 100 tons of diverse organic wastes from the landfill

and saving the company $40,000 in disposal costs in 1998.

Carrier operates a closed-loop system. Four thousand

employees in 18 buildings, three large cafeterias, and two carpentry shops provide the food scraps, sawdust, and wood chips

that supply the composting operation year-round. Grounds

maintenance generates grass clippings, leaves, and yard trimmings for composting during the fall and summer months.

The finished compost goes to meet Carrier’s extensive landscaping requirements at its 3.4-million-square-foot facility. 

Carrier’s recycling coordinator, Angie Scafidi, attributes

the company’s composting success to management support

and employee education, both of which were cultivated as

carefully as their compost.

project to cafeteria workers and grounds crew. The 

chose the composting method that required the lea

all the options they considered—turned windrow c

Armed with solid research and well-thought-o

dures, the team sold Carrier management on the 

demonstrating how composting would save the c

money, enhance Carrier’s corporate image, and b

phase of waste reduction at the facility.

Implementing Through Employee Educa

To smoothly roll out the new program, Carrier 

training classes for the grounds crew and food ser

ers involved. The company also distributed an inf

pamphlet explaining the program to all other emp

Carrier employees were very receptive to the p

fact, the grounds crew was so excited about it, th

little signs indicating where they had used the fir

compost for tree and shrub planting. The signs re

“Compost Home Grown By Carrier.”

Evaluating the Program

Adding composting to the company’s reuse and 

programs demonstrated to employees that waste re

was a high priority for the organization. “Aside fro

ic savings and environmental concerns,” Scafidi no

wanted to show our employees that we were seriou

whole concept of waste prevention.” Carrier also s

employees that composting is a waste reduction m

can take home. In celebration of Earth Day 1998, 

offered employees home composting equipment a

on composting techniques. For Earth Day 1999, C

offered its employees free compost, and employees 

10 tons of it to use in their home gardens.

Carrier’s program emphasizes low-cost simplici

sense of pride in contributing to the company’s w

tion program and wider environmental goals. Wit

ments in place, composting at the company show

of cooling off. For more information about Carrie

posting program, contact Angie Scafidi at 315 43

Carrier's Simple but Effective Process

Carrier's composting process has four stages:

• Separation. Carrier collects preconsumer food scraps in

90 gallon wheeled bins located near the food preparation

areas of the cafeteria. Employees know that blue collection containers are for vegetable scraps only; no grease

or meat products are allowed. 

• Collection and Mixing. The buildings and grounds crew

transport the bins to the compost site each day, using a

front-end loader. At the site, on a concrete pad, the food

scraps are mixed with sawdust, wood chips ground from

clean delivery pallets, and yard waste (when available). 

• Pile maintenance. The grounds crew uses shovels and thermometers to combine, turn, and monitor the windrows. The

temperature of the piles is taken several times a week and

generally runs between 105 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the piles start to cool, the grounds crew turns them to

ensure the middle of the pile has adequate air, moisture, and

nutrients to rekindle bacterial activity. 

• Curing. When the temperature of the windrows no longer

increases after turning, the curing stage begins. Curing

takes about 30 days, after which the compost is ready for

spreading on Carrier grounds.
WasteWise partner King County, Washington, is

playing a key role in a regional effort to protect

and restore salmon populations, now listed as a

threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Local

water quality and wetland habitats are threatened by urban

development and landscaping practices that remove or compact native soils and vegetation cover, thereby damaging their

capacity to retain water and filter out pollutants. Rainwater

that runs off of impervious surfaces can carry sediment, 

pesticides, and fertilizers into water bodies, posing 

aquatic life such as salmon.

According to King County organics program m

Marx, the county is looking closely at using comp

another tool in its wide array of salmon recovery e

combination of a rainy climate and the quick pace 

ment has led to excessive runoff. When compost is 

the soil," Marx explains, "it improves the soil's wa

tion and retention capabilities as well as pollutant 

properties. What's good for the soil, is good for w

resources, which in turn supports fish." He added 

county plans to replenish soils with compost—esp

urban land—through best management practices a

development standards.

In the meantime, the King County Department o

Resources has formed an organics team, incorporating 

tives from different divisions to examine opportunitie

various organic programs. A study is now under way t

how best to increase the capacity of organic materials 

posted. The study also will analyze different facility op

handling organic feedstocks such as yard debris, soiled 

and wood waste, biosolids, and agricultural waste. 

The mention of any company, product, or process in this publication does not constitute or imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

King County Explores Using Compost to Aid Salmon Recovery

The microbial activity within mature compost, as well as

its physical and chemical properties, can be used for a number of beneficial activities such as pollution prevention and

pollution remediation. 

Pollution Prevention

As topsoil erodes, it allows rainwater to flow directly into

streams and lakes rather than being absorbed and filtered by

the soil. This runoff brings with it harmful fertilizers and pesticides. Compost can reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides by at least 50 percent by adding organic bulk and

humus to poor soils and by suppressing certain plant diseases

and parasites. Compost also helps soil better retain water. This

property makes compost useful in projects involving wetlands

restoration, soil erosion prevention,

and storm-water runoff prevention. 

Pollution Remediation

Compost can provide cost-effective remediation 

minated soils and water from areas such as Brown

Superfund sites. The microorganisms in mature, c

post can sequester or break down contaminants in 

soil, transforming them into humus and harmless 

such as water, carbon dioxide, and salts.

For more information on beneficial uses of compo

Compost—New Applications For an Age-Old Technolog

F-97-047) by calling EPA’s publications center at 800 
1EPA

United States

Environmental Protection Agency

(5306W)

Washington, DC 20460

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use

$300

How It All Got Started

When waste fiber output increased dramatically in 1994,

Johnston began to consider composting as an alternative to

spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in hauling and disposal fees. Johnston hired a consultant to research composting

options and then forwarded the consultant’s report and a

request for a feasibility study to the Alabama Department of

Environmental Management. The request was approved expeditiously and Johnston has been composting ever since.

Fiber as Food for Compost

Johnston composts fiber from a Valley, Alabama, division that

buys fiber byproduct from other textile manufacturing plants

and cleans it for reuse in absorbent products such as cotton

swabs and personal hygiene products. Only the high-quality

portion of the fiber is reclaimed; therefore, this process generates 10 to 15 tons per day of waste fiber, which Johnston

diverts from the waste stream into its composting program.

According to Johnston’s environmental manager Hal Wood,

According to Wood, “Composting at Johnston Industr

simple process—Mother Nature takes over, but she is 

forgiving without the right moisture and oxygen conte

Johnston can add moisture to the operation during dr

ods in the summer, but the composting process opera

naturally and efficiently in spring, fall, and winter, whe

area receives adequate rainfall.

Marketing Composted Fiber

Five years after its inception, the program is still going 

The company sells or gives away finished compost to 

gardeners and hobby farmers. Not surprisingly, the co

experiences a surge in demand in the springtime, alth

the compost is available year-round.

As gardeners around Valley, Alabama, can attest, Joh

has turned a mountain of waste disposal costs into pi

useful commodity. For more information about Johnst

Industries’ fiber composting program, contact Hal Wo

706 641-3190.

If you have received this publication in error, or want to be removed from the WasteWise Update 

list, please call the WasteWise Helpline at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473) or send a copy of this page

mailing label, back to WasteWise at the address below. Many WasteWise publications, including 

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nated soil remediation and pollution pre

vention. Case studies illustrate these uses.

▼ 

Composting of Yard Trimmings 

and Municipal Solid Waste 

(EPA530-R-94-003). 

Geared toward municipal planners, this

publication helps decision-makers develop composting programs in their communities. It describes composting

processes and examines how to plan a

composting operation from collection

through marketing finished compost.

▼ 

Organic Materials Management

Strategies (EPA530-R-97-003). 

This report describes seven composting

strategies for common organic materials

and presents an analysis of the benefits

and costs of each strategy.

Other Composting Resources

▼ 

City Farmer. 

This Web site describes vermicomposting

and the steps involved in creating and

maintaining a worm bin in your home or

office. <www.cityfarmer.org/

wormcomp61.html#wormcompost>.

everything from biosolids to yard trim

mings. To subscribe, call 610 967-4135

or visit their Web site at

<www.jgpress.com>.

▼ 

Cornell Waste Management

Institute/Cooperative Extension. 

These institutions offer extensive resources

on composting for businesses and institutions, including a number of tool kits,

manuals, tip sheets, and videos. One kit

includes a manual with case studies and

two videos. Available for $35. For more

information, contact the Institute at 607

255-1187. To view case studies online,

visit <www.cfe.cornell.edu/WMI/

Compost/CaseStudies.html>. 

▼ 

Don’t Bag It—Compost It! 

This Web site is an excellent resource for

those interested in small-scale composting projects. It includes a slide show that

illustrates composting step by step. 

<aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthknd/

compost/compost.html>.

U.S. Composting Council. 

This organization is involved 

public education, composting 

post standards, expansion of 

markets, and gaining public 

composting. Phone: 440 989

visit <www.compostingcounc

▼ 

Maryland Department of 

Works & Transportation. 

The solid waste services sectio

department’s Web site provid

advice on grasscycling, from f

application and mowing meth

lawnmower and watering opt

<www.dpwt.com/SolWstSvcD

solid/grass~1.htm>.

All EPA publications are available through EPA’s National Service Center for Environmenta

Publications (NSCEP): Phone: 800 490-9198. Web site: www.epa.gov/ncepihom.

G r a s s c y c l 

R e s o u r c 
1. Locate a composting faci

• What types of organics does the facility 

• How much organic material can the 

ty accommodate from your organiza

every week?

• What is the tipping fee at the facility? 

1. Assess the resources available 

• Do you have the capital, equipment, and space available to initiate and

maintain a site?

• What types of organics will you compost? If food is your primary type, will

you have access to bulking agents such as paper, wood chips, and sawdust?

• How will you use the finished compost? On site, or is there a market to

sell the compost?

2. Select a composting method

• What composting method will best suit the resources available? Static

piles? Aerated windrows? In vessel? Vermicomposting? 

• Are there any regulatory issues or permitting requirements involved in

storing and composting organic waste using the method you choose?

2. Arrange for transport of 

organics 

• Will organics collection require another 

• Or, can you arrange for collection an

site transport under your current haul

• Does the composter provide hauling s

3. Determine how the organics will be collected, stored, and 

transported within the facility 

• Who will supervise the operation?

• Will you need to purchase additional containers?

• Who will be responsible for separating the compostable materials?

• How often will the containers need to be emptied? Who will be responsible for this? 

Source: Adapted from A Guide to Commercial Food Composting, Composting Council Research and Education Foundation, December 1997. 

4. Educate your employees 

• Have you clearly communicated composting expectations and responsibilities to your employees?

• Who will be responsible for educating and training the employees? 

5. Monitor and assess the program 

• Are the organics being separated properly?

• Are you having problems with odors from containers? 

• Have you asked your employees for feedback?

• Can the frequency of waste collection be reduced as a result of the organics diversion?